Foot cushioning device



Jime 2, 1-964 A. HOLZMAN 3,135,265

Foo'r CUSHIONING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR ALFRED HOLZ MAN June 2, 19-6 A. HOLZMAN 3,135,265

FOOT CUSHIONING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ALFRED HOLZMAN' BY ATTORNEYS I 3,135,265 FOOT CUSHIONING DEVICE AIEred Hellman, Newton, Mass. Universal Stay Company, Inc, 181 Spencer Sh, Chelsea 50, Mass.) 1 Filed June 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,613 a 5, Claims. (Cl. 128-619) This invention rclatesto foot cushioning devices and more particularly comprisesa new and improved device which may either be permanently or removably placed in a shoe to provide added comfort for the wearer.

A wide variety of foot cushioning devices have appeared on the market in recent years, some capable of being inserted in anyflshoe above the lining and others designed specifically to be incorporated into the shoe dur- 3,135,265 Patented. June 2, 1964 2 includes a base sheet 10, a top sheet 12 and a cushioning sheet 14. The base sheet preferably is made of a cotton flocked plastic sheet, the top sheet of polyvinyl plastic, and the cushioning sheet-of a polyvinyl foam.

ing its construction and form a permanent part thereof.

Such items in varying degrees have proved eifective, and an ever increasing demand exists for such devices.

All of the devices now available and known to applicant either are designed to givegeneral relief to the wearer or specifically relieve one particular malady;;that is none of these devices may be altered by the consumer so as to provide him with a choice as to how the device istobeused. e

The primary object of this invention is to provide a foot cushioning device which may be modified by the purchaser to give more than the general relief ordinarily available. 1

Another important object of this invention is to provide a .foot cushioning device whichgives maximum pillow-like support for the sole of the foot.

Yet another important object of this invention is to provide afoot cushioning device which when inserted into a shoe will not slip or otherwise shift on the. shoe lining or insole.

To accomplishthese and other objectsthe foot cushioning device of this'invention includes among its important features a base sheet which generally conforms to the outline of -the foot. A topsheet conforming in outline to the outline of the base sheet rearwardly of the metatarsal area cooperates with the base sheet to sandwich a cushioning sheet generally the same. in outline as the top sheet. A readily removable portion is provided at the metatarsal area of the base sheet which when notremoved forms part of a uniform, smooth surface in the The cotton flocked plastic ba'se sheetwill' prevent the device from slipping on the inside of the shoe.

The base sheet 10 conformsjin outline generally to the outline of the foot and more particularly to the outline of a soleof a shoe into which it is to be incorporated. However, the base sheet'includes an extension 16 along the. inside edge 18 at the side of the longitudinal arch area of the device. The top sheet 12 conforms in outline to the rear portion of the base sheet 10 behind the metatarsal area 20. The cushion sheet 14 is substantially identical in outline shape to the top sheet 12 but may be slightly smaller than it. v v

The base and top sheets with the cushioning sheet are secured together by a heat sealed seam 22 sh'own in FIG. 1 to. run about the periphery of therear portion of the device, and'by a seam 24 which-traverses the device just behind the metatarsal area 20. The seams 22 and24 secure the three sheets together at the periphery but leave each free of the others inwardly of their edges.

Another seam 26 generally arcuate in shape extends from the inner edge 18, of the device just rearwardly of the metatarsal area 20 to the side edge of the device rearwardly of the'longitudinal arch. Thus the seam 26 together with'the seam 22 at the extension 16 defines a separate cushion area adapted to lie against the side of In order for the device to give maximum cushioning to forepart of the device, which is comfortable to the foot.

When the portion is removed, the opening thereby formed is designed to receive a cushioning insert for the metatarsal of the foot. V 1

These and other objects and features of this invention, along with its incident advantages, will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cushioning device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional .view taken along the corresponding section line in FIG. 1; i 7

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an insert constructed in accordance with this invention; I

FIG. 4 is a cross sectionalview taken along the corresponding section line in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cushioning device shown in FIG. 1 with the insert of FIG. 3 incorporated therein;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the corresponding section line in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged crosssectional view of a portion of the top sheet of the device.

The foot cushioning device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the foot the connected'cells of the cushioning'sheet 14 of polyvinyl foam must fill with air immediately upon the release of pressure from the device. Thus, when the foot is lifted to reduce the compres sive load on the cushioning sheet thetop sheet must allow air to enter into the interior of the device between the top and base sheets and into thecells of the foam. It will be noted in FIG17 that the top sheet 12 is embossed with closely spaced wells 28 over its entire upper surface. These wells gradually taper from their top to their bottom, and openings 30 are provided at the bottom of each well to form a passage for air to the foam layer 14. They also allow air to escape fromthe foam when compressed under the weight of the wearer. v i V In FIG..1 a tear line 40 is shown which follows the contour of'the seam 2 4 at its midsection and then circles about the metatarsal area 20 so as to define a removable portion 42 in the base sheet 10 at the metatarsal area. The tear line 40 may be scored or otherwise formed so as to make the portion 42 of the sheet 10 readily removable. However, the tear line 40 should have sufllcient strength so as to prevent accidental separation of the portion 42 from the remainder of the sheet 10.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 an insert to be used as part of the cushioning device is shown. The insert is to be used when the removable portion 42 of the base sheet 10 is in fact removed. The insert shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a base sheet 44 preferably made of the same material as the base sheet 10, a smaller top sheet 46 preferably made of the same material and similarly embossed as the top sheet 12 of the device, and a cushioning sheet 48 made of polyvinyl foam normally of the same density as the foam sheet 14.

The base sheet 44 of the insert is of the same shape but slightly larger than the opening 52 formed in the base sheet 10 by the removable portion 42. Thus, as shown in FIG. "5, when the insert is placed beneath the device the margin 50 of the base sheet 44 is overlapped by the edges of the base sheet which define the opening 52. The edge 54 of the upper sheet 46 is heat sealed along seam 56 to the bottom sheet 44 inwardly of the edges 58 of the bottom sheet as is evident in FIG. 4. The seam 56 also holds the cushion sheet 48 in place so that the three sheets are joined in the same manner as the main part of the device shown in FIG. 1.

The seam 56 just fits within the opening 52 in the base sheet 10 when the insert is assembled beneath the main body of the device and serves as a self-positioning border to be sure that the insert is properly centered with respect to the opening 52. The cushion sheet lies within the confines of the opening 52 so as to avoid any extreme break in the base sheet 10 or the formation of a rib or protrusion which could be' uncomfortable. It will be noted in FIG. 5 also that the portion of the margin 50 lying just rearwardly of the metatarsal lies beneath the cushion sheet 14 of the main part of the device so that the added sheet is compensated for by the sponge at that area. Therefore, when the portion 42 of the base sheet 10 is removed'and the insert is positioned as shown in FIG. 5 thereare no undue irregularities formed in the device which could prove uncomfortable.

' From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that a user may incorporate the device into a shoe in either of two ways; namely, he may use the device as shown in FIG. 1 without the metatarsal insert, or alternatively he may remove the portion 42 from the base sheet 10 and incorporate the insert shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus by using the device shown in FIG. 1 he may provide general comfort to the sole by cushioning the rear area of the foot, or he may specially tailor the device to relieve discomfort at the metatarsal area when this malady exists. Moreover, the manner in which the device is made makes it possible for the user to employ a device in one foot with the metatarsal pad and a device for the other foot without it. While certain devices are available which provide the comfort or relief derived from either use of this device, there is no such device available which may be used interchangeably and thus avoid for the user the cost of two sets of devices when the requirements for each foot are not the same. 7

The special texture of the upper sheet of both the main outline of the portion of the base sheet rearward of the metatarsal area,

a plastic foam sheet disposed between the base sheet and top sheet and conforming in outline to the outline ,of the top sheet, 7

said sheets being heat sealed together about the periphery of the top sheet -so that the foam sheet is completely enclosed by the base and top sheets,

an arcuate heat sealed seam extending from the inside edge of the device adjacent the forward end of the top sheet to the inside edge of the device just forward of the heel area of the device,

a tear line formed in the base sheet just forward of the 7 top sheet and providing a removable section in the sheet at the metatarsal area,

- and a separate cushion insert including a base sheet larger than the removable section of the first-named base sheet and having a foam sheet conforming in shape to the removable section enabling said separate cushion to be disposed with its base sheet beneath said'first named base sheet and with its cushion extending upwardly through said first named base sheet when said section is removed,

2. A foot cushion as defined in claim 1 further characterized by the top sheet having embossed downwardly tapered wells extending downwardly from its upper surface, r and openings formed at the bottom of the wells and extending through the top sheet. 3. 'A foot cushion as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said separate cushion insert having a top sheet made of the same material as the top sheet of the r device,

said top sheet of the insert not exceeding the size of the removable section of the base sheet,

a heat sealed seam extending about the edge of the top sheet of the insert and securing the top, bottom and foam sheets of the insert together, said insert seam positioningthe insert within the opening in the base sheet resulting from the removal of the section.

4. A foot cushion as defined in claim 3 further characterized by the top sheet of both the device and separate cushion insert having downwardly tapered wells extendbody of the appliance as well as the insert is such that 1 the device breathes easily, as the eifective areas of the holes through which air may pass are substantially larger against the sole of the foot than those found in other devices. That is, the size of the openings at the tops of each well 28 are relatively larger, While the holes 30 at the bottoms of each well which govern the amount of air that enters and leaves the cushioning layers are eifectively the same as in the other devices. From the foregoing description those skilled in the art will appreciate that modificationsmay be made of my invention without departing from its spirit.- Therefore, I do not intend to limit the breath of this invention to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is my intention that the breath of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their-equivalents.

Whatisclaimedis:

'1. A foot cushion device comprising a cotton flocked plastic base sheet 'conformingin outline shape to the outline of the foot,

' a plastic top sheet conforming in outline shape to the ing downwardly from their top surfaces,

and openings extending through the top sheets at the bottoms of the wells. v 5. A foot cushion comprising a base sheet generally conforming to, the outline of the foot, an opening formed in the base sheet at the metatarsal area, I v an insert'sheet slightly larger than the size of the opening disposed beneath the base sheet,

7 a cushion secured to the insert sheet and being smaller than the opening and extending upwardly through the opening in said base sheet,

and cushioning means secured above the base sheet and confined to the base sheet rearwardly of the opening and overlying the portion of the insert sheet rearwardly of said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,221,202 Ratcliflr' Nov. 12, 1940 2,439,545 Matlas Apr. 13, 1948 2,965,984 Scholl Dec. 27, 1960 

1. A FOOT CUSHION DEVICE COMPRISING A COTTON FLOCKED PLASTIC BASE SHEET CONFORMING IN OUTLINE SHAPE TO THE OUTLINE OF THE FOOT, A PLASTIC TOP SHEET CONFORMING IN OUTLINE SHAPE TO THE OUTLINE OF THE PORTION OF THE BASE SHEET REARWARD OF THE METATARSAL AREA, A PLASTIC FOAM SHEET DISPOSED BETWEEN THE BASE SHEET AND TOP SHEET AND CONFORMING IN OUTLINE TO THE OUTLINE OF THE TOP SHEET, SAID SHEETS BEING HEAT SEALED TOGETHER ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE TOP SHEET SO THAT THE FOAM SHEET IS COMPLETELY ENCLOSE BY THE BASE AND TOP SHEETS, AN ARCUATE HEAT SEALED SEAM EXTENDING FROM THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE DEVICE ADJACENT THE FORWARD END OF THE TOP SHEET TO THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE DEVICE JUST FORWARD OF THE HEEL AREA OF THE DEVICE, A TEAR LINE FORMED IN THE BASE SHEET JUST FORWARD OF THE TOP SHEET AND PROVIDING A REMOVABLE SECTION IN THE SHEET AT THE METATARSAL AREA, AND A SEPARATE CUSHION INSERT INCLUDING A BASE SHEET LARGER THAN THE REMOVABLE SECTION OF THE FIRST-NAMED BASE SHEET AND HAVING A FOAM SHEET CONFORMING IN SHAPE TO THE REMOVABLE SECTION ENABLING SAID SEPARATE CUSHION TO BE DISPOSED WITH ITS BASE SHEET BENEATH SAID FIRST NAMED BASE SHEET AND WITH ITS CUSHION EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID FIRST NAMED BASE SHEET WHEN SAID SECTION IS REMOVED. 